En français

Mots-clefs

Description:

The give and take inherent in any friendship is portrayed with brevity and style in this picture book about a girl and her dog. Elegant, minimal drawings graphically transmit the roiling emotions underlying the story, while the language presents a neutral front with simple headlines and instructions: “Solutions for a Missing Shoe,” “Check in the closet,” “Look under the bed.”

In one image, the girl’s vexed eyebrows point downward as she ties on a mismatched shoe. The penitent dog hangs its head (having chewed the other to pieces). In another picture, the dog leaps on the girl with friendly joy—contrasting with her surprised grimace, as her ice cream cone topples onto her dress. (“Solutions for a melting ice cream cone,” “Share with a friend.”)

Finally, “Solutions for a boring day” and “Solutions for a flyaway hat” depict warm moments of backyard companionship, and a cozy indoor sequence shows the two friends enjoying couch-time together. Through minimal language and image—and a great deal of nuance—this book tells a sweet story of love, acceptance and friendship.

Elementary English Language Arts Activities

Brainstorm a list of problems you have faced recently. Sort them into big and small. Discuss the reasons why a problem might be described this way.

As you read, describe the actions and the feelings of the dog and the girl.

With a partner, role play being the dog and the child in one of the scenes. Act out what you think they would be saying and doing.

Would you like to have a pet like the dog in the story? Write a list of reasons why or why not.

Elementary English as a Second Language Activities

Brainstorm a list of problems you have faced recently. Sort them into big and small. Discuss the reasons that a problem might be described this way.

Go for a picture walk and discuss the setting, weather, characters and problems.

As the story is read aloud, compare it to your discussion during the picture walk.

Use the list of problems from the first activity and enrich one of them in the same style as the book. Assemble them into a class book of solutions.

Cross-Curricular Competencies

To construct his/her identity

To use creativity

Broad Area of Learning

Personal and Career Planning

Subject Areas

Drama

Visual Arts

Companions Books

These books are suggested for use as a companion to the book suggested on this page. They are complementary, with shared elements as identified below, beyond the information in the keywords.

Topic or theme (T)

Visuals (V)
If exceptional or not likely to be indicated in the keywords